Charlottesville Victim's Mother: Her Killer 'Magnified Her'

The mother of Heather Heyer speaks at her daughter's memorial service: "They tried to kill my child to shut her up. Well, guess what? You just magnified her."

(Published Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017)

What to Know

It's been one year since the deadly white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the violent clashes that broke out

There is heightened security in the town this weekend, but some activists worry the measures could be a counterproductive overreaction

Downtown streets and public parks are closed, and visitors can't wear masks or carry certain items in a downtown "security area"

A day after tensions between police and community activists nearly boiled over on the University of Virginia's campus, the city of Charlottesville marked Sunday's anniversary of a deadly gathering of white supremacists with a rally against racial hatred.

On Sunday morning in Charlottesville, a crowd of more than 200 people gathered in a park to protest racism and mark the anniversary. The group sang songs, and speakers addressed the crowd. Among them was Courtney Commander, a friend of Heather Heyer, the 32-year-old who was killed when a car plowed into a crowd of people protesting the white nationalists.

Commander, who was with Heyer when she was killed, said, "She is with me today too."

Jason Kessler, who abandoned his bid to stage a similar anniversary event in Charlottesville, said in his permit application that he expects 100 to 400 people to participate in his event Sunday afternoon in Lafayette Park, in front of the White House. President Donald Trump won't be there, though. He was at his golf club in New Jersey.

On UVA's campus Saturday night, police had a brief, tense confrontation with students and other activists angry over a heavy security presence. They unfurled a banner reading "Last year they came w/ torches. This year they come w/ badges" and chanted "Why are you in riot gear? We don't see no riot here." More than 200 marched to another part of campus, where many shouted at a line of officers.

Last year, 22-year-old Clara Carlson faced down a group of white supremacists who marched through campus, surrounding her and a group of friends. On Saturday night, she was angry at the police response to the student rally.

"The university administration just let white supremacists roll through grounds with their torches, and for us, they're afraid of us. They are afraid of us because we are demanding change from the university," Carlson said.

The rest of the day had been much quieter, with some residents and businesses expressing that they felt calmer with the police presence in town.

Last year, on Aug. 12, hundreds of white nationalists — including neo-Nazis, skinheads and Ku Klux Klan members — descended on Charlottesville in part to protest the city's decision decided to remove a monument to Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from a park.

Violent fighting broke out between attendees and counterprotesters. Authorities eventually forced the crowd to disperse, but a car later barreled into the crowd of peaceful counterprotesters, killing Heyer and injuring dozens more. A state police helicopter later crashed, killing two troopers.

Heyer's mother, Susan Bro, brought flowers Sunday afternoon to the spot where her daughter was killed.

Bro embraced supporters and thanked them for coming to remember Heyer, but also said the day was about more than just her daughter. She recognized the other victims of the attack and the troopers who died, Lt. Jay Cullen and Trooper-Pilot Berke Bates.